AEG Invests in E-sports Team Immortals

Anschutz Entertainment Group announced an investment in e-sports franchise Immortals that makes it a team owner and home-venue operator for the team.

Immortals, which had been training out of a Brentwood home earlier this year while a team facility was being built in Santa Monica, is now set to host L.A.-based tournaments and events at downtown entertainment district L.A. Live, owned by AEG, as part of the deal.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Expanding our interests in esports is a natural progression as we continue to invest in growth initiatives that further our leadership in sports and live entertainment,” said Dan Beckerman, chief executive of AEG, in a statement.

Staples Center has hosted e-sports events including last year’s League of Legends World Championship. AEG entered a long-term global partnership last year with ESL, a company that operates e-sports competitions. That deal allows it to utilize AEG’s global network of more than 120 clubs, theaters, arenas and stadiums for events, tournaments and world championships.

Immortals was founded in 2015. AEG joins an ownership group led by Chairman Clinton Foy and Chief Executive Noah Whinston. Other investors in the franchise include Michael Milken, Steve Kaplan, Gregory Milken, Allen DeBevoise, Greg Bettinelli and Brian Lee.